Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
For a wanderer, even if every day is filled with delicacies and the life outside is vibrant and lively, nothing compares to the old bamboo house at home, a cup of clear wine, a bowl of braised pork, the sound of firecrackers, and a cheerful shout.
Being away from home is never as good as being at home. Qing Shusheng's deep concern for his beloved daughter naturally flowed out in an unguarded moment. Moreover, he was unaware of Qinglan's situation; he did not know that while everyone else was laughing and reuniting, his precious daughter was trapped in a difficult phase of her life, feeling lonely and helpless in the dark of night.
If he knew about her circumstances, it would break his heart. Whose child isn't cherished? Why should his daughter, raised like a princess, suffer for someone else's son?
"I'm doing great out here!" Although she spoke these lies, her face revealed a genuine smile. In front of Father, Qinglan always greeted him with a smile.
"Did you have New Year's dinner?" Qing Shusheng asked.
"I did, I had it with many people," Qinglan replied with a strained voice, trying hard to suppress her emotions. She was truly worried that her voice would betray her feelings.
"What's wrong?" Qing Shusheng still sensed something unusual in her tone.
"Nothing's wrong!" Qinglan deliberately raised her voice to sound cheerful. "I just miss home a bit!" She forced a shy laugh, trying to act cute.
"If you miss home, just come back! After today, you can come back tomorrow. We don't need to work for that little money. Even after you graduate, we won't have to go far for work; we can earn money right at home. The fruit trees and medicinal herbs we planted in the past few years are thriving now. In spring, the mountains are full of fruits that we send to the city to sell by the truckload. People in the city are going crazy over our fruits because they are all pure and natural. It's easy to make money now; come back! Don't worry about work. Even if you can't find a job in Beijing after graduation, you can work with Father here. I won't let you suffer or struggle; you won't have it harder than people in the city."
Qing Shusheng rambled on about many things at home and in the village over the phone, painting a picture of their once backward and isolated mountain village as a flourishing paradise full of life.
"Okay, Father. If I can't stay in Beijing anymore, I'll come back." This was Qinglan's most sincere promise.
Just after hanging up from Qing Shusheng's call, another ring sounded. Qinglan thought it was another phone call but realized it was the doorbell when she picked up the phone to check.
She got out of bed and put on her shoes; she hadn't taken off her clothes.
It was Xu Wen, standing outside the door with a face full of snow and cold, holding a large plastic bag that looked quite heavy.
Qinglan opened the door to let him in. Although it was late at night and it was New Year's Eve, Qinglan didn't bother to ask why he had come so late. She took the plastic bag from his hands, stepping aside to let him change his shoes before entering. The plastic bag was warm; as Qinglan held it with both hands, she immediately felt the warmth spreading through her, warming her heart.
"What is it?" Once inside the living room, Xu Wen had already turned on the lights.
"Why didn't you turn on the lights?" Xu Wen's fair face was still flushed from the cold.
"I just dozed off in bed, so I didn't turn on the lights," Qinglan said, lifting the plastic bag high and tilting her head to look inside. "What is it?" she repeated her question.
"I got you a bowl of dumplings from the dumpling shop outside, along with some stir-fried dishes and a bottle of red wine. I'll go steam some rice now; you can eat the dumplings while I keep you company with some wine."
As Xu Wen spoke, he had already taken the bag from Qinglan's hands, opened it, and laid out the dumplings, dishes, and wine on the dining table. He then went to the kitchen to get two pairs of chopsticks.
"I'm really sorry; I wanted to come earlier to celebrate New Year with you, but my mom kept talking to me and I couldn't get away. I made you spend New Year alone," Xu Wen said as he walked back into the living room and turned on the television. "Turn on the TV; even if we don't watch it, just listening to the sounds will make it feel festive."
Qinglan felt a pang in her nose but still smiled as she replied, "The one who should apologize is me for making you not be with your parents during New Year. Besides, I don't feel lonely at all; it's nice to have some peace."
Xu Wen looked at Qinglan, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment as if trying to discern whether she was telling the truth.
"What are you looking at?" Qinglan smiled lightly. "It's true; I've come to understand everything now. Life is just a matter of moments. As long as you don't care about others' judgments of you, you'll live happily."
Xu Wen shifted his gaze away from her face and walked to the dining table, opening a bottle of red wine and pouring half a glass into two goblets. "Can you ignore the outside world?"
Following Xu Wen, Qinglan had already sat down at the table and said, "I'm trying to do that. Even though I haven't succeeded yet, my current state is not one without outside disturbances, without external judgments, or the gaze of the world upon me. So at least for now, I am happy."
Qinglan's statement was half true and half false. It was half false because she had just been so sad moments ago. It was half true because she was indeed not being disturbed by the outside world at this moment; there was a brief moment of tranquility, which was certainly better than the days ahead.
Xu Wen sat down and said, "You should eat some dumplings first to fill your stomach. Eat them while they're hot; after we finish the dumplings, we can drink."
Qinglan nodded and began to eat the dumplings.
"But can you really avoid being disturbed by the outside world forever? Eventually, you will have to go out, be known by others, be judged by them, and be watched," Xu Wen continued.
"That's something for later; I don't want to think about it now. But at least for now, no one is bothering me, and it's very peaceful. So at least I'm living happily right now, so please don't worry about me."
Xu Wen pursed his lips and nodded heavily. "I hope that no matter how others see you or judge you in the future, you won't care. Just believe that you are a good girl and live happily."
"Yes, I will," Qinglan replied. After finishing her dumplings, she pushed her bowl toward the center of the table and casually brought the goblet of red wine in front of her.
What Xu Wen didn't know was that tonight, Qinglan experienced a profound shift in her thoughts. Sometimes a person's change of mind doesn't just alter their decisions but also encompasses their life and destiny.
Qinglan raised her glass and smiled at Xu Wen. "Happy New Year!" Xu Wen momentarily didn't react; he didn't understand why Qinglan had suddenly changed so quickly. "Cheers!" His heart was filled with genuine blessings, but his smile felt somewhat bitter. He didn't know what fate awaited her in the future; he didn't know how much preparation she had made for her future life. Did she have a strong enough heart and courage to face what lay ahead and continue on her life's path?
Comment 0 Comment Count